Category: Accessible Games
Hi there,
I'm posting to let you know that a game I've been helping to build for awhile - some of you know about it but most of you probably don't - is getting closer to release. This is not meant as an advertisement, though I will of course be pleased if gamers from here end up giving the game a peek when it goes fully live. Rather, I'm mentioning Tarranoth's impending launch because I'm looking for alpha testers to play and later help modify the game.
The theme is what I'd call gothic medieval - swords, sorcery, castles, quests, that sort of thing - and we have a naming policy which forbids plagiarism, numbers or titles in a player's username. Roleplay is by no means enforced, but we hope to foster a strong roleplay community if all goes well. The stats system is sound and, while levelling will no doubt be a part of the experience for those who wish, we will be endeavouring to break up the monotony of the "daily grind" with quests, new areas to explore, unique abilities and items to play with, and other pastimes to deplete your stamina. Stamina, by the way, is a number which is slowly whittled down as you battle but which can be replenished assuming you have the potions or other items to do so; stamina also replenishes slowly on its own till you reach your maximum. We have a blacksmith guild, an alchemy guild and a magic artifacer's guild, and are working on a crafting/tailoring guild as well. Players can only join one guild.
Essentially, a play-tester should be willing to do the following, if called upon:
1. Test the game's usability with different screenreaders (not multiple from the same person, necessarily, but I'm a Jaws user with no other screenreader experience, so I know the game works with Jaws but don't know how it fares with other popular screenreaders);
2. Give constructive feedback regarding the efficiency of the game's play and interface; visually impaired users are more than welcome here, as well as those in the community who are sighted and might catch things that we sightless folk would miss;
3. Write room descriptions if the circumstances allow and a greater desire to help the game after initial testing is present; please note that a firm grasp of the English language and an above-average aptitude for creative writing are very much required for this kind of task, but not all those interested will be required to perform this service...it's a case-by-case basis and only those who wish to help will be even remotely imposed upon to try;
4. If you're artistically minded, feel free to help us replace our current sprites - a rather lackluster lot - with new and refreshing artwork. Again, this will be addressed on an individual basis.
If you are accepted as an alpha tester, it is implicitly understood that you try not to spoil the game's inner workings with those who are not immediately involved. This doesn't mean you can't mention a thing you experience but it does mean that divulging every single detail about the game before it goes live will very much be frowned upon. We're past a point where stealing would be dangerous, most likely, but we'd rather not have to find out that we were mistaken.
Any comments or questions about the game or about testing can go here. I'll check in regularly, and if any of you are particularly interested, feel free to send me a private message with an email address if you wish to speak away from the Zone. In the beginning, I will need to provide each new account with a temporary password, so it is imperative that those interested be willing to accept communication on that score. I'd also like to add, before I go, that not everyone who wishes to test will be allowed to test. Based on what the game needs, I will have to take applicants on an as-needed basis, judged on qualifications, area(s) of expertise and the like. Please don't take it personally if you apply and are not allowed to test; I don't wish to flood the game in the first twenty-four hours - if I can be allowed the luxury of such a brazenly good prognosis. I take every interested party, accepted or not, as a sign that people are interested in what I'm trying to do here, and that, as a developer, is a wonderful thing. Tester or not, you'll all be more than welcome to stop by and give us a spin once we go live. If things progress adequately, this shouldn't take too long.
For those who want a brief peek at the site, including a basic overview of how we work and a bit of back story, visit:
http://www.tarranoth.com
I look forward to hearing from some of you soon. Thanks for reading.
this game sounds good!. thanks a lot for sharing it.
i agree
I'm just bumping this thread back up in the hopes that those who haven't seen it yet may still do so.
Also, if any of you know PHP or SQL and are willing/able to teach, I'm trying to learn. I'd rather be kind of helped by a person than simply reading a tutorial if possible. I believe myself capable of learning the language, and the more programmers we have (myself included someday I hope) the quicker we can progress.